I just got rid of a 2003 range rover to get the overland. The range rover was great, but did have plenty of problems along the way. I actually with the quadra lift and drive the new cherokee is alot closer.
For me it was between getting a used 08 rover or the new overland with a warranty and 0 miles on it.
I went for the Overland.
I still have a defender 90 when I get the itch, but that is certainly not a luxury vehicle.

It was the tires he had. Some have also speculated that video is a fake. Mine was a champ and sorry to say a little better in the ruff stuff than the GC. You always felt confident and it didn't slide around like the GC, but that could be because of the added weight. I love the new GC and I am so glad I do not have to drive 2 hrs for service or service as often for that matter, LOL

My brother has one of these $100K RR & he is very excited to see my new Summit. He is thinking of buying a Jeep versus another RR (which he loves & has over 100k miles). He noted the range rover is making a lot of changes in 2012, 900 pounds lighter and duplicating the bentley interior plus another 25 cm larger. But he can't justify the costs with what Jeep is offering.

The latest LRs/RRs are fine trucks, but try to get service when traveling outside urban centers, especially inland. In some places the nearest Rover dealership is the better part of a day's drive away -- lotsa luck if you need a tow.

Jeep may not have the highest quality dealer network, but at least there are plenty of them scattered about.

I owned a 98 Grand Cherokee, then moved to a 2003 RR HSE, then a 2006 RR Supercharged (full-sized) and now my 2011 Limited.

My 2003 RR was ahead of its time and I encountered no problems, sold with 130k miles. My 2006 was great as well, powerful, fast, smooth, luxurious; best SUV I've ever driven. It may have been missing some hi-tech features of today, but in 2006 it was top-notch. Now, I wasn't interested in taking my $100K SUV off-road so I can’t comment there. I’ll admit, she was riding on 22" OEM Stormer replica's.

I traded the '06 RR in for my wife's Benz in June 2010. I contemplated getting another RR for myself but couldn't justify the car payment on the 2010 MB and a 2011 RR with a baby on the way.

So, I started searching for a new mid-size SUV for me; I was now driving my wife's MB C230k Sport Sedan. I looked at everything - the Acura MDX, MB ML-class, Volvo XC90, Audi Q5, BMW X5, etc. Nothing thrilled me. I liked parts of each, but nothing as a whole compared to the styling, sophistication, luxury, power and ruggedness of the full-sized RR.

Then, I remembered that Jeep had re-designed the Grand Cherokee for 2011. I loved my '98, which was a great vehicle, and since I didn't care much for the styling of the WJs or the WKs the brand fell off of my radar. So I drove to a dealership and checked out a new Wk2 (this was in late Oct).

After driving a Limited it was down to the M-class or a Wk2.

Well, I am thoroughly happy with my Jeep. Does it have its share of problems and little annoyances, of course – it’s a first year vehicle. Does it offer the same level of luxury as either of my RRs - nope, but at less than half the price that is something I am OK with. It shares (and steals) some exterior styling features from Acura, BMW, Volvo and others and yet it is entirely "Jeep".

The Wk2 offered the most bang for the buck out there in a 5-seat mid-sized SUV, IMO. It has proven off-road capability, a refined interior and offers hi-tech infotainment and safety options. And, I love the panoramic roof; my wife's R350 has one but the ML didn't offer it. There are some things I would change, mostly from an options standpoint; LED lighting (headlamps, tails), power folding mirrors, pwr steering column std on Limited, pwr liftgate std on Limited, ability to order Overland w/out QL, further upgraded seats (i.e. 12- or 14-way power, memory lumbar, power headrest), etc. However, nothing which detracts from the cars overall appeal.

Now, while Jeep/Chrysler service is not Land Rover I do have four dealerships in an 8-mile radius where as the closest LR dealership was 35-miles away. And, my LRs hourly labor-rate was $140; at Jeep it is $85.

Perhaps the biggest reason I went with the Jeep… my wife said it was more of a masculine SUV then the ML was. That put the thought into my head of, “Here comes a soccer-mom… oh wait, it’s a guy”. I already have a complex driving her R350, luckily when I’m driving it she is with me.
So, this is just what I found during my extensive search. I believe Jeep should have waited on the release to work out some of the kinks we have all experienced, especially from the get-go with ever-changing standard features, options and availability.

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p.s. - to REPO503, in 2005 you could also get a WESTMINSTER edition RR. It upped-the-ante and offered most of the features that would be next be seen the following year in the 2006 Supercharged RR (full-sized) model.

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**I forgot to mention, when I went in to check out the X5, the sales guy wanted NOTHING to do with me. I walked in with my wife, we arrived in her new R-Class, and when the sales guy asked if he could help us I immediately inquired about leasing options on the 2011 X5 and the dealerships ability to "get" vehicles (couldn't wait to order one). His response, "you can get the leasing and estimated payment information at our website." Then he walked away. Yah, I'll be sure to recommend them to friends.

Perhaps the biggest reason I went with the Jeep my wife said it was more of a masculine SUV then the ML was. That put the thought into my head of, Here comes a soccer-mom oh wait, its a guy. I already have a complex driving her R350, luckily when Im driving it she is with me.

Great writeup, and I'd bet that the thought above plays a role in many a purchasing decision.